Music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Music of the Baroque and Classic Eras
Music of the Romantic and Modern Eras
(MUSL 242, 243, 244)
In his Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke of 1602, Thomas Morley tells of a young fellow who, wanting to be socially "in the know," went to a party where he was asked to resolve a heated dispute concerning music. When he could not do so, those gathered condemned him of discourtesy. It was even worse when, after supper, the lute was passed around and all parties requested to sing. But when the poor wretch could not, "every one began to wonder; yea, some whispered to others demanding how I was brought up." So don't be like the young Englishman--come explore the world of music, no matter the state of your loot.
- How did sharps, flats, clefs develop? You don't know?
- Concerning Karl Marx and Richard Wagner, who was the chicken and who was the egg? Which one got scrambled?
- Why did Gesualdo murder his children? Guess! (Who in the heck was Gesualdo?)
- Who invented the orchestra? (No, it wasn't Nashville Symphony Maestro Kenneth Schermerhorn.)
- Ever wonder why so many musicians, past and present, have long hair?
- What do conductors do with those little sticks, anyway?
All those things you wanted to know but were afraid to ask await you in the halls of music history.
"An incredibly resourceful, thorough, and perceptive instructor. I have learned an incredible amount."
--former student, on a course evaluation form
Credit?
Arts and Science--elective
Engineering--humanities
Peabody--humanities
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